Summary
- EA's history includes canceled games like Marvel: Chaos, Dawngate, and Project Ragtag.
- Ambitious titles like Batman: The Dark Knight and the Star Wars Mandalorian shooter got axed.
- Fans still crave Dead Space 4 as Visceral Games' legacy lives on in Striking Distance Studios' The Callisto Protocol.
Electronic Arts is one of the largest video game companies in the world. The studio develops and publishes multiple titles each year while continuing to provide content for previously released games. However, there have been several instances where games were canceled before their release for various reasons.
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From original titles to projects based on famous franchises, Electronic Arts possesses a well-documented history of strategic acquisitions, often followed by the eventual discontinuation of studios and their celebrated titles. Many of these games were highly anticipated and have fans still wondering how they would have turned out had they been released.
Marvel: Chaos
The Lost Sequel To Marvel Nemesis
- Developer: EA Chicago
Intended to be a pseudo-sequel to Marvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects, Marvel: Chaos was going to include multiple heroes and villains who were missing before, including Captain America, Hulk, and Juggernaut. However, when EA Chicago closed down, Marvel: Chaos became the last time Electronic Arts was behind a Marvel game for many years until the announcement of EA Motive's Iron Man game.
The only glimpses that fans had of Marvel: Chao s were images of the prototype, which showcased more vibrant visuals compared to the darker and murkier aesthetics of Marvel Nemesis. EA Chicago, known for their work on 3D fighting games like Def Jam and Fight Night, likely influenced the style and mechanics they were planning to introduce in this superhero fighting game.
Dawngate
EA’s MOBA Did Not Survive A Saturated Market
- Developer: Visceral Games
Many companies in the 2010s attempted to hop on the MOBA hype train, but very few managed to keep up with titans like DOTA 2 and League of Legends. Dawngate was going to be EA’s attempt, and even released a beta in 2014 with all the tropes: a roster of heroes, fighting minions through lanes, and working with a team to destroy the enemy’s side of the map.
The beta for Dawngate proved to be a disappointment due to its lack of innovation, which eventually led to all development for the game being stopped after just a few months. It is the only game ever developed by Waystone Games, which EA likely dissolved following the failure of Dawngate.
Aliens: Colonial Marines (EA Version)
Fans Almost Went To The Xenomorph Homeworld
- Developer: Check Six Games
Before Gearbox Software developed the notoriously disappointing game Aliens: Colonial Marines, the title had originally been worked on by EA and Check Six Games since the early 2000s. The only glimpse of this earlier version was a demo showcased at E3 2001, along with a few screenshots released over the years.
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The reason for the cancellation remains unknown, although Electronic Arts has stated that they do not intend to continue with Aliens: Colonial Marines. Some revealed details include a protagonist named Lt. Nakamuri, who battles terrifying Xenomorphs aboard the U.S.S. Sulaco and travels to the homeworld of these alien life forms.
Titanfall 3
Respawn Canceled The Third Game To Focus On Star Wars
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Titanfall 3 was highly anticipated, especially after Titanfall 2 demonstrated significant improvements over the original game. Additionally, Apex Legends, a successful spin-off set in the same universe, contributed to the demand for a sequel. The combination of first-person shooter gameplay with giant mechs created a unique multiplayer experience, which also featured a compelling story mode.
With a third game, Titanfall could have fleshed out its universe even more and given fans an even grander story that rivaled what the developers have done with the Star Wars Jedi series. Sadly, Electronic Arts laid off many employees at Respawn, forcing the team to refocus its attention on the third Star Wars Jedi game.
Black Panther
What Could Have Been The Definitive Black Panther Game
- Developer: Cliffhanger Games
Cliffhanger Games announced their Black Panther game in 2023 under Electronic Arts, which had Marvel fans curious as to what a solo Black Panther title would be like. Leaks revealed that the player would have chosen which character inherited the title and became ruler of Wakanda from a selection of T’Challa, Shuri, M’Baku, Azari, Killmonger, and more.
The Black Panther game would have implemented RPG elements and an open world, which could have made it a strong title for Marvel’s iconic character. Unfortunately, Cliffhanger Games was dissolved by Electronic Arts in 2025, which led to the game suffering the same fate, much to the disappointment of excited gamers.
Project Ragtag
The Canceled Precursor To Star Wars Outlaws
- Developer: EA Vancouver, Motive
Headed by the co-creator of Uncharted, Amy Hennig, Project Ragtag was going to be an ambitious game created by EA Vancouver and EA Motive that would blend criminal life and sci-fi adventure in the Star Wars universe. This concept would have featured a team of criminals trying to pull off the biggest heist in the galaxy, which later became the concept for Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws.
Project Ragtag was, unfortunately, a victim of the time when Lucasfilm and Star Wars were acquired by Disney, leading to multiple projects being canceled, including Ragtag. EA Vancouver went on to work on sports and racing games, while EA Motive transitioned to working on other Star Wars projects like Star Wars Battlefront 2, and later developed the surprising Dead Space remake.
The Ripper
A Fun Concept But A Potentially Controversial One
- Developer: Visceral Games
Visceral Games, the team behind Dead Space, were going to take their knack for gore and horror to develop a new third-person game where the player controls a famous figure. The Ripper would have reimagined Jack the Ripper as a demon hunter framed as a ruthless serial killer who murdered sex workers on the streets of Whitechapel, London.
While unconfirmed, it is likely that fantasizing about a real-life killer as the hero of the story was a controversial idea and may have contributed to EA's decision to cancel it. Visceral Games went on to make Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 instead, two games that helped define their legacy as game developers and made them a famous name in the realm of horror.
Batman: The Dark Knight
EA Almost Gave Fans The First Open-World Batman Adventure
- Developer: Pandemic Studios
Batman Begins was a surprise gem for a movie-licensed video game, which led to Pandemic Studios taking over the development of a game based on The Dark Knight. Batman: The Dark Knight was set to be the first-ever open-world DC game before Batman: Arkham City, with players being able to run across rooftops, drive the Tumbler, and ride the Bat-Pod through Gotham.
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Batman: The Dark Knight initially appeared to be an ambitious project, but this very ambition ultimately caused it to fall apart. Pandemic Studios aimed to create a genuine Batman game that would complement the blockbuster movie. However, this led to multiple delays, and when the project missed its deadline, Electronic Arts decided to shut it down.
Star Wars Mandalorian Game
Lay-Offs Canceled A New First-Person Star Wars Shooter
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
After the success of their Star Wars Jedi titles, it was announced that Respawn Entertainment would tackle more Star Wars projects in the future. One still set to release is Star Wars: Zero Company, which is going to be a turn-based strategy game in the style of XCOM. Meanwhile, the other was going to be an open-world first-person shooter about a Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Fans of The Mandalorian series were disappointed that the game was canceled, as Respawn Entertainment had already proven itself capable of blending verticality into first-person shooters. Between Titanfall and Apex Legends, Respawn is the perfect studio for a bounty hunter game, but their team of developers was affected by the heavy layoffs in the gaming industry.
Dead Space 4
Fans Are Still Hoping For A Fourth Game
- Developer: Visceral Games
While the third game was not as beloved as the first two, many consider the Dead Space trilogy to be an iconic series that helped redefine horror in the 2010s, and they all desired a fourth game. Visceral Games wanted to bring a Dead Space 4 to their fans, but the team found their studio dissolved by Electronic Arts, leading to the Dead Space name being locked away until the 2023 remake.
Glenn Schofield, formerly of Visceral Games, founded Striking Distance Studios, which created a spiritual successor to Dead Space called The Callisto Protocol. This game features an immersive HUD, intense and disturbing body horror, third-person shooter gameplay, and a gritty space setting, providing fans with an experience akin to a potential Dead Space 4, albeit without much connection to the beloved series.
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